FANFARE

Baca, Nicholson lift Saint Martin's

NAMPA, Idaho -- Jessica Baca hit a three-run home run in the first game and Cheryl Nicholson slugged a two-run homer in the second as Saint Martin's swept Northwest Nazarene, winning 9-1 and 8-3, in a softball doubleheader on Saturday in Nampa, Idaho.

"We hit the ball really well," Saints coach Jason Hanson said. "The second game was ugly, but we'll take the win."

Each team played flawless defense in the first game and committed four errors in the second.

Nicole Oberg and Elissa Johnson combined on a four-hitter in the opener, with each pitching three innings. Nicholson, Jessica Pagoria and Lisa Roth each hit a triple.

Nicholson had two hits in the second game, including her home run. Jen Lybrand had seven strikeouts in a complete-game five-hitter.

The Saints (9-6, 3-1 Great Northwest Athletic Conference) face Northwest Nazarene again on Thursday at home.

- SAINTS STRONG IN DISTANCE RACES: Nathan Carlson and Emily Thomas each won an event as Saint Martin's competed Saturday in the Spring Break Open track meet hosted by Club Northwest in Edmonds.

Carlson won the men's 1,500 in 3 minutes, 57 seconds, while Thomas took the women's 5K in 19:23.

Carlson also was second in the 800 in 1:57, while Andy Prentice was right behind him in third place at 1:58.

Other women who did well were Jennifer Houk with a third in the 5K in 20:30, Ann McCanick with a fourth in the 1,500 in 5:08 and Mariah O'Neal with a fourth in the javelin at 119 feet in her first meet of the year.

No team scores were recorded.

Colleges

- LSU MEMO CITES POSSIBLE VIOLATIONS: LSU athletes had tutors write, rewrite and type papers, read books, and look up test answers for them in violation of NCAA and school rules, according to a university memo.

The Jan. 22 memo from Roger Grooters, director of LSU's Academic Center for Student-Athletes, to the athletic department's NCAA compliance officer listed seven alleged violations.

LSU released the memo after blacking out names and anything else that might identify the people involved. LSU has been investigating the allegations since January.

Southeastern Conference Commissioner Roy Kramer will decide if the NCAA should get involved.

LSU athletic director Skip Bertman has said the investigation centers on five to 10 student-athletes, including football players. LSU has notified the NCAA of its investigation, associate athletic director David Bahnsen said recently. He could not be reached for comment Friday.

Auto racing

- MONTOYA TAKES POLE AT BRAZILIAN GP: Juan Montoya clinched the pole position for the Brazilian Grand Prix at Sao Paulo, Brazil, in his Williams-BMW, fending off a late charge Saturday from the new Ferrari of world champion Michael Schumacher.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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